Likely, the most important thing to remember during any patient’s brachioplasty recovery is this:
Rest, relax, and don’t try to do too much.
Why? Because most of us vastly underestimate how much we use our arms in everyday life. Nearly everything you physically do requires your arms — whether it’s getting dressed, cooking, cleaning, bathing, driving, or caring for children or pets. Even sitting at a desk and writing or lying on the couch and using a remote with the TV requires arm use.
And after arm surgery, using your arms too much is a major no-no.
Does this mean that your brachioplasty recovery time must be characterized by completely immobile days and nights? No, not necessarily.
But it does mean that we recommend you do an adequate amount of preparation beforehand to ensure that your recovery from brachioplasty goes well and that you achieve optimal results.
What Is Brachioplasty?
Brachioplasty, also known as arm lift surgery or batwing surgery, is a plastic surgery procedure to remove excess skin from the upper arms. It is typically an outpatient procedure.
Most patients who seek this procedure are doing so because they’ve lost a lot of weight and have been left with loose sagging skin. Sometimes, the loose skin is due to the effects of aging.
Periodically, patients want liposuction to remove excess fat from their arms, but they also need an arm lift procedure to remove the excess skin that would be left after lipo (due to skin laxity). Therefore, they require a combination lipo and upper arm lift surgical procedure to remove the excess skin and fat.
How to Prepare for the Arm Surgery Recovery Process
Arrange for someone to take you home after surgery.
You will not be able to drive following your arm surgery, so you’ll need to arrange for a trusted friend or family member to drive you home from the surgical facility or hospital. If you need any other errands run at this time, be sure to plan to take care of these when you have a driver as well because you will not be able to drive for several weeks moving forward either.
Look into childcare and pet care, if needed.
Heavy lifting is out of the question during your recovery journey. So, if you have babies or small children who need to be lifted and carried or pets that you typically carry, be sure that you arrange care ahead of time. It will not be possible to run after small children or pets during your initial recovery period.
Figure out your meals ahead of time.
Believe it or not, even preparing small meals can require a lot of arm movement and strength. It’s better to prepare a healthy and balanced diet for yourself ahead of time. Some patients arrange for meal delivery or prepare freezer meals for themselves prior to surgery.
Assemble an easy-to-wear wardrobe.
Putting on clothes and taking off clothes can also require a lot of arm movement and stretching. Make sure that the clothes you wear are easy to put on and take off. Elastic, easy-to-wear pants and zip-up tops are typically best. Avoid tight-fitting clothes and tops and dresses that you have to pull over your head.
Put the things you need within reach.
Throughout the recovery process, you’ll need to access things like your phone, charger, books, snacks, water, soap, lip balm, tissues, etc. Make sure all of these items are within easy reach before your surgery. You do not want to be stretching or straining your arms at all during your recovery.
Plan for a lot of downtime.
Finally, prepare things to do for yourself. This might mean getting some books or magazines to read, making a list of movies or TV shows to watch, getting some small crafts that don’t require much arm strength, or arranging to call friends or family members to pass the time.
FAQ: Upper Arm Lift Surgery
How painful is arm lift recovery?
Patients should expect some pain throughout the healing process after arm lift surgery. Your plastic surgeon will make prescribed pain medication available to help you deal with this discomfort.
As you progress through brachioplasty recovery day by day, resting, keeping your arms elevated, and using cold compresses if allowed can also help your pain levels. Typically, the worst pain only lasts for a few days and starts to subside after that.
Will I have arm lift scars?
Yes, an arm lift involves incisions, so the cosmetic surgery does result in arm lift scars. You will have one arm lift scar on each of your upper arms.
These will typically be located on the inside of the arm from the armpit down to the elbow. In some cases, we can keep the arm lift scar shorter and located more toward the upper armpit. But this depends on how much skin the patient needs to have removed.
How much does brachioplasty cost?
Your arm lift or brachioplasty cost will be determined by who your surgeon is, the extent of your arm lift surgery, whether you have additional procedures performed (tummy tuck surgery, liposuction, etc.), and several other factors. Schedule a consultation appointment for more accurate pricing information.
How long do I wear compression sleeves after brachioplasty?
A compression garment on each arm will keep your incisions together and the sutures in place as you heal. These garments must be worn for at least two to four weeks (and sometimes longer). Sometimes, small drainage tubes will be placed within the garments for a time to remove excess fluid.
Book a Consultation with Dr. Mohan Today
The truth is, every plastic surgeon performs brachioplasty in their own way and recommends certain recovery protocols for their patients.
If you would like to learn more about how Dr. Raja Mohan, board certified plastic surgeon, performs brachioplasty, and what he recommends his patients do during their recovery period, please call our office today to schedule a one-on-one consultation appointment.